Current Programs in the Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD)

TWD programs foster the training and development of a strong and diverse biomedical research workforce. The division funds research training, career development, diversity and capacity-building activities through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, faculty and institutional levels.

PREDOCTORAL TRAINING BRANCH

Bridges to the Baccalaureate (R25) | PAR-13-333; Michelle HamletThe goal of this program is to promote the successful completion of baccalaureate degrees by students from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. The strategy is to support comprehensive science education and research-readiness student development programs that help diverse students at community colleges transition to baccalaureate degree programs at research-intensive partner institutions.FY2013: NIGMS supported 33 institutions with 497 slots

Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) | PAR-12-276; Michelle HamletThis program's goal is to promote the successful completion of doctoral degrees by students from underrepresented groups. The strategy is to support comprehensive science education and research-readiness student development programs that help diverse students in M.S. degree programs transition to Ph.D. degree programs at research-intensive partner institutions.FY2013: NIGMS supported 14 institutions with 92 slots

Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F30/F31) Fellowships | PA-14-147; Oleg Barski; R. Ravichandran; Mike Sakalian; Darren Sledjeski | PA-14-148; Shawn Gaillard | PA-14-150; Régine DouthardNIGMS predoctoral fellowships promote fundamental, interdisciplinary and innovative research training and career development leading to independent scientists who are well prepared to address the nation's biomedical research needs. Fellowships are available for Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. or other dual-degree students, as well as to promote diversity in health-related research. The strategy is to provide support to outstanding predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored training leading to the Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. or other dual-degree.FY2013: NIGMS supported 63 predoctoral trainees

Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (R25) | PAR-14-121; Dan JanesThe goals of IMSD are to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups who complete Ph.D. degrees and enter the research workforce, and also to enhance the diversity of students in awardee institutions' Ph.D. programs. The strategy is to provide institutional grants for research training and developmental activities at research-intensive institutions.FY2013: NIGMS supported 48 institutions (546 undergraduates and 360 doctoral scholars)

Institutional Predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) | PA-14-015; 12 Program Officers The goal of the T32 program is to enhance the quality of comprehensive research education and career development activities that prepare graduate students for the biomedical research workforce. The strategy is to enhance institutional curricular programs and research training in 11 scientific areas plus integrated medical scientist (M.D.-Ph.D.) training.FY2013: NIGMS supported 2,947 trainees in 271 programs at 101 institutions

MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) (T34) | PAR-13-205; Shawn GaillardThe goal of this program is to increase the nation's pool of students from underrepresented groups who have the research experience and science preparation to matriculate and succeed in biomedical Ph.D. programs. The strategy is to support institutional programs of academic and research education, including 2 years of support of honors juniors and seniors and at least one summer research experience at a research-intensive institution.FY2013: NIGMS supported 60 institutions and 613 trainees

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25) | PAR-14-076; Michael BenderThe goals of PREP are to increase the number of baccalaureates from underrepresented groups who go on to Ph.D. or M.D.- Ph.D. degree programs, and also to enhance the diversity of students in awardee institutions' Ph.D. and/or M.D.-Ph.D. programs. The strategy is to support institutional programs that provide extensive research training and academic preparation at research-intensive institutions through 1- to 2-year research apprenticeships.FY2013: NIGMS supported 25 institutions with 179 scholars

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (R25) | PAR-13-196; Robin BroughtonThe goal of RISE is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who enter Ph.D. training. The strategy is to support research education programs at institutions with substantial enrollments of students from underrepresented groups. RISE programs may be designed to support undergraduate-, M.S.- or Ph.D.-level trainees.FY2013: NIGMS supported 45 institutions with 1,041 scholars (695 undergraduates, 60 M.S., 253 Ph.D.)

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING BRANCH

Career Development Awards (K08) | PA-14-046; K23; PA-14-049; PA-11-009; K25; PA-14-048; Michael SesmaThis program's goal is to enhance training for individuals with clinical doctoral degrees through mentored research career development experience in anesthesiology, clinical pharmacology, trauma and burn injury or wound healing. The strategy is to support mentored research and career development awards including the K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist, the K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research, the K23 Translational Scholar Career Award in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine, and the K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award.FY2013: NIGMS supported 26 K08 awards in 21 institutions; 20 K23 awards in 15 institutions; and 5 K25awards in 5 institutions

Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F32) | PA-14-149; Michael SesmaThe goal of these fellowships is to support applicants to become productive, independent investigators through focused awards designed to enhance advanced and specialized training in basic and/or clinical research. The strategy employs an intensive, mentored research project experience that encourages the development of independence, innovation and creativity in a highly productive research setting.FY2013: NIGMS supported 287 F32 awards

Institutional Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) | PA-14-015; Alison Cole; Richard Okita; Susan Haynes; Scott SomersThe goal of this program is to enhance the quality of institutional training programs for scientists in four clinically relevant research areas within the mission of NIGMS: anesthesiology; clinical pharmacology; medical genetics; and trauma, burn and peri-operative injury. The strategy is to support at least 2 years of research training in basic, clinical and/or translational science areas and promote research career development.FY2013: NIGMS supported 9 medical genetics, 10 clinical pharmacology, 11 anesthesiology,and 20 trauma programs; with 138 trainees

Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) (K12) | PAR-13-290; Jessica Faupel-BadgerThe goals of IRACDA are to develop a diverse group of highly trained biomedical scientists who pursue independent research and teaching careers in academia and to strengthen and modernize science educational offerings at partner institutions with significant enrollments of students from underrepresented groups. The strategy is to promote effective partnerships between research-intensive institutions and regional institutions with significant underrepresented student populations by supporting a 3-year mentored research, teaching and career development program for postdoctoral scientists.FY2013: NIGMS supported 19 programs and 197 scholars

Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25) | PAR-14-170; Michael SesmaThe goal of this program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation's biomedical research needs. The strategy is to fund activities with a primary focus on courses for skills development, structured mentoring activities and outreach programs.

National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (F33) | PA-11-114; Michael SesmaThese fellowships are designed to support experienced investigators seeking opportunities to undertake short periods of mentored research training that will allow them to redirect, revitalize or restart a research program upon returning to their home institutions.FY2013: NIGMS supported 1 individual

Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) | PA-15-083; Michael SesmaThe goal of this program is to shorten and facilitate the transition from a postdoctoral researcher to an independent investigator capable of leading a research team. The strategy is to support highly promising postdoctoral researchers in mentored research positions followed by 2 years of independent research support.FY2013: NIGMS supported 21 K99 awards in 15 institutions; and 46 R00 awards in 34 institutions

Research on Interventions (R01) | RFA-GM-14-013; Michael SesmaThe goal of this program is to understand the social and behavioral factors that increase the interest, motivation and preparedness of students from underrepresented groups for biomedical research careers. The strategy is to support research that tests assumptions about these factors and that can inform and guide new, evidence-based interventions for research training.FY2013: NIGMS supported 28 awards

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp) | PA-14-077; Mercedes RubioThe goal of this program is to increase the nation's pool of students from underrepresented groups who matriculate and complete the Ph.D. The strategy is to employ the research project grant as the platform for intensive mentored research experiences within the scope of the grant during the continuum from high school to the postdoctoral level.FY2013: NIGMS supported 96 new awards and 72 continuing awards at all levels

Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (Admin Supp) | PA-12-150; Mercedes RubioThe goal of this program is to increase the diversity of the research workforce and support individuals at the postdoctoral or early faculty level who have high potential to re-enter an active research career after taking time off to care for children or parents or to attend to other family responsibilities. The strategy employs the research project grant as the platform for intensive, mentored research experiences that facilitate re-entry and the establishment of a full-time, independent research career.FY2013: NIGMS supported 1 postdoc and 1 investigator level supplement

CAPACITY BUILDING BRANCH

Strategies for capacity building include programs to broaden the geographic distribution of NIH funding and to develop faculty research capabilities. The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program increases the competitiveness of investigators by supporting faculty development and research infrastructure enhancement at institutions in IDeA states, defined as those with the low NIH research funding (23 states and Puerto Rico).

IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) (P20) | PAR-14-233; Krishan AroraINBRE's goal is to enhance, extend and strengthen the research capabilities of biomedical research faculty in IDeA states. The strategy is to build statewide, multidisciplinary research networks that expand the research opportunities and increase the number of competitive investigators in those states. INBRE supports institutional research and infrastructure development; research by faculty, postdoctoral scientists and students at participating institutions; and outreach to build science and technology knowledge in the states' workforces.FY2013: NIGMS supported 24 awards

IDeA Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (P20) | PAR-14-035(Phase 1); PAR-13-243(Phase 2); Yanping Liu | (P30) PAR-14-178(Phase 3); J. Rafael GorospéCOBRE's goal is to strengthen institutional biomedical research capabilities in IDeA states. The strategy is to support three phases of infrastructure and faculty development through thematic, multidisciplinary centers, each led by an NIH-funded investigator with expertise central to the theme of the grant. A COBRE includes a principal investigator with peer-reviewed funding and leadership experience, 3-5 individual research projects led by a junior investigator, and clear mentorship plans leading to successful competition for other research support.FY2013: NIGMS supported 95 awards

IDeA Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (IDeA-CTR) (U54) | PAR-14-303;J. Rafael GorospéIDeA-CTRencourages consortium applications from IDeA states to develop network infrastructure and capacity to conduct clinical and translational research focused on health concerns that affect medically underserved populations and/or that are prevalent in IDeA states. IDeA-CTR awards support mentoring and career development activities in clinical and translational research and facilitate collaboration among clinical researchers in IDeA and non-IDeA states.FY2013: NIGMS supported 2 awards

Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06) | PAR-13-239; Sheila CaldwellNARCH supports partnerships between American Indian/Alaska Native (IA/AN) tribes or tribally based organizations and institutions that conduct intensive, academic-level biomedical, behavioral and health services research. NARCH provides opportunities for conducting research, research training and faculty development to meet the needs of AI/AN communities.FY2013: NIGMS supported 33 projects and cores

Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) (SC1, SC2, SC3) | PAR-14-019, PAR-14-017 and PAR-14-018; Hinda ZlotnikSCORE is a developmental program that seeks to increase the research competitiveness of faculty at institutions that have a historical mission focused on serving students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research. The strategy is to support faculty research development at three formative stages of their research careers.FY2013: NIGMS supported 203 SCORE awards at 44 institutions